News

NC Faculty Receive Funding for Research

January 14, 2014

The Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation recently awarded funding to Northland College faculty members Brandon Hofstedt, Kevin Schanning and Angela Stroud and student researchers to conduct a social capital survey project in the spring and summer of 2014. The project will provide a baseline assessment of social capital measures for the Chequamegon Bay area communities of Ashland, Washburn and its surrounding townships of Barksdale, Washburn, and Bayview and Bayfield and Bayfield as well as La Pointe, Bad River and Red Cliff.

According to faculty, no comprehensive social capital data exists for these communities, making work on various economic and community development initiatives a challenge. Social capital research suggests that measuring and understanding local forms of social capital is important for a number of reasons. Communities with strong bridging social capital and strong bonding social capital tend to have higher levels of voluntarism and community involvement, are able to quickly respond to community needs, have lower crime rates, have more effective governments, have more successful and responsible businesses, and have stronger economies. Additionally, understanding social capital has benefits for all community members, as they can more effectively link diverse and disparate social networks, something that facilitates political and economic opportunities that benefit everyone.